Spinning line cathead



Aug. 15, 1944. v. s. HAR LIN SPINNING LINE CATHEAD Filed Feb. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l m w m L wN ATTORN EY Aug. 15,- 1944. v. s. HARLIN SPINNING LINEfiATHEAD Filed Fat 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 vm wm om ATTORNEY Aug. 15, 1944.

' V. S. HARLIN SPINNING LINE CATHEAD Filed Feb. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TTORNEY Aug. 15, 1944. v. s. HARLIN 2,355,861

SPINNING LINE CATHEAD I Filed Feb. 20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIIIIIIII. 1,, v1 1 INVENTOR AT NE Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFICE SPINNING LINE CATHEAD Varney S. Harlin, Wheatland, Okla.

Application February 20, 1942, Serial No. 431,721

1 Claim.

My invention relates to rope winding spools or catheads, and more particularly to clutch-operated catheads constituting a part of oil field draw-works and commonly known as spinning line catheads.

Spinning line catheads are used extensively for making up drill stem and casing strings or otherwise operating pipe tongs for making and sometimes breaking threaded pipe connections. They are usually mounted upon the same draw-works shaft which carries, upon its outermost end, a winding spool used for light hoisting or pulling jobs in and about the derrick.

In utilizing a spinning line cathead for making up pipe joints, in order to be practical it is necess'ary that the structur be such that the operator may at all times retain perfect control of pe winding drum. He must be able to obtam a short or long pull upon the line, and must be' fabl' to instantaneously connect, the drum to or "release it from its driving shaft.- For this reason, usual jaw-type clutches af operation to reach the desired result-.==

One object of the present invention 1s-- theprovision of a spinning line cathead clutch which 7 may be instantaneously connected to and released from the driving shaft.

In order to obtain a sensitive as well a s instantaneous clutch operation, friction discs have been utilized in the present cathead, and it is one object. of the invention to provide a friction-type cathead clutch which will have sufficient friction surface to not only exert the tremendous power needed, but which will also withstand, over a long period of time, the wear and tear occasioned by the frequent clutching and de-clutching operation.

When running pipe into a well, a make-up or spinning line cathead clutch is connected and disconnected several times for each pipe joint, and each connection is made from a dead' stop on the part of the rope winding drum. It may therefore be seen that the frictionelements must Withstand an enormous amount of abuse.

Another object is to provide a cathead clutching mechanism so designed that the friction discs may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

A still further object is to provide a frictiontype clutch which may be easily and quickly adjusted to compensate for wear in the friction discs.

Since the draw-works shaft upon which spinning line catheads are mounted is usually also used to drive mechanical units other than the cathead, the shaft in most cases constantly roo slowfin 1 tates when the draw-works is in operation. For this reason there is an almost continuous frictional wear between the stationary and the rotating portions of the cathead.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a clutch structure which is so designed that this wear is reduced as much as possible.

Another object is the provision of a frictiontype cathead clutch in which all of the end thrust, occasioned by engaging th friction discs, is absorbed in the clutch mechanism without any portion thereof being exerted upon the shaft.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying four-sheet drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the cathead operatively mounted upon a driving shaft, the clutch mechanism being depicted in a declutched position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the clutch I parts in their clutched positions;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the cathead mounted upon its drive shaft;

ure 4 isa vertical sectional view taken subt rii a y al in i ezl ne .414 of Figure 11 Figure;5 isj'asimilar view taken substantially along the line 5 59f Figure 2 Figure 6 is avertical sectiona1 view detailing V the rope winding drum;

Figure 7 is a similar view detailing the clutch sleeve;

Figure 8 is an end view of a movable constituting a part of the device;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a similar view, of two bearings which are part of the device;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view detailing an adjustable flange forming a part of the device; and, I

Figure 12 is a perspective view of two co-acting clutch engaging rings used in? connection with the device. -#1::

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all of the figures wherein they occur.

The reference numeral l indicates the outer, or free end portion, of a usual draw-Works shaft which is adapted to be driven to rotation by a draw-works power unit, not shown.

As one means for mounting the present cathead upon the outer end of the shaft I, the shaft is threaded to receive a suitable coupling flange 2. A short extension shaft or stub-shaft 3 havflange ing an integral coupling flange 4 at one end and a reduced taper 5 at its other end, is attached in axial alignment with the shaft I by a plurality of stud-bolts 6 engaged in threaded bores 6-11. in the flange 4 (Fig. 4). A boss I (Fig. 1) is provided upon the face of the flange d to seat snugly within a similarly shaped indenture 8 in the outer face of the flange 2. The boss 1 and indenture 8 assist in insuring the stub-shaft 3 against racking movement with relationto the shaft Pressed firmly in place upon the tapered portion 5 of the stub-shaft 3 is a usual rope spool 9 which is held against independent rotation thereon by a key If! and against longitudinal removal therefrom by a disc or plate H and a stud-bolt |2 (Figs. 1 and 2).

The spinning line cathead mechanism of the present invention is carried by the stub-shaft 3 between the inner end of the spool 53 and the outer face of the flange and consists substantially of the following described structure:

Over the stub-shaft 3 is pressed a substantially tubular clutch sleeve I3, best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The sleeve l3 has an axial through bore M which is enlarged as shown at W to form, with the shaft 3, an annular reservoir it for a lubricant as will be more fully described hereinbelow: Passages extend laterally through the wall of the sleeve and act as outlets for the lubricant. The sleeve I3 is provided at its inner end (the right hand end of Figs. 1 and 2), with exterior threads l8, and intermediate its ends has an integral outwardl extending annular flange i9. A pair of oppositely disposed keys 29 act in a usual manner to prevent independent radial movement of the sleeve |3 with relation to the stub-shaft 3.

Around the exterior surface of that portion of the sleeve l3 which lies between the flange l9 and the flange 4 of the stub-shaft 3. there are provided two spaced outwardly extending flanges or rings 2! and 22 (Figs. 9 and 11). The ring 22 is interiorly threaded to engage the threads it on the sleeve l3, and a lock-nut 23, also engaging the threads l8 acts to adjustably lock the ring 22 in stationary position. The ring 2| is in fact a follower, and is adapted to be moved along the sleeve [3 longitudinally thereof for a purpose which will be more fully described hereinbelow. The follower 2i and sleeve l3 have radially spaced keys, the key-way 24 for one of which is shown in Fig. '7, and which keys permit the follower 2| to slide along the sleeve I3 but prevent its independent rotation with relation thereto.

Between the inner or right hand end of the spool 9 (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) and the outer or left hand face of the flange |9 of the sleeve l3, and preferably mounted upon suitable roller bearings 25, is a rope winding drum 2%. The drum 26 has an annular rope receiving or winding channel 2? bounded by two outwardly extending annular end walls 28 and 29.. Thewall 29 has an integral hollow cylindricalflange 3G extending toward and beyond the flange :8 of the sleeve I3, and the end of the flange 38 supports an annular metal disc 3| which is attached rigidlythereto by a plurality ofstucl-bolts 32. .Thedisc 3| [is made in two half circular sections and is located between the adjacent faces of the flange l9 and the follower 2i. The central bore of the disc 3| is sufliciently great inrdiameter toclear the outer surface ofthe sleeve it. The bearings 25 are assembled entirely around the sleeve l3 and are held a ainst longitudinalmovement by two rings 33 which are threaded into the ends of the bore of the drum 26. The drum 26 is free to slide longitudinally a slight distance upon the roller bearings as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

As above-stated, the disc 3| is located between the adjacent faces of the flange I9 and the follower 2|, and at each side of the disc 3| there is provided one of two identical friction discs 34. The discs 34 are formed of any suitable material such as asbestos composition, a metal-fiber plastic combination, or the like.

The adjacent faces of the flange l9 and the follower 2| have a series of equidistantly and radially spaced superficial bores which receive the opposite ends of a plurality of compression springs 35. The springs 35 act to force the follower away from the flange l9.

As a means for moving the ring or follower 2| toward the flange H3 in order to compress the friction discs 36, there is provided around the exterior surface of the sleeve l3 a pair of coacting thrust rings lid and 4!. These rings are detailed best in Fig. 12. The ring 46 consists of an annular body having downwardly extending spaced ears 42 between which is pivoted upon a pivot pin 13 an anchor arm 44. The anchor arm acts to prevent rotation of the ring 40 about the sleeve 53 by extending through an opening 45 in the derrick floor 46.

The ring 5| has an outwardly extending handle i'l by which it may be manually rotated about the sleeve iii. A pair of anti-friction bearings 48 form riding surfaces for the rings 42 and 4|. It will be noted that when the sleeve |3 is rotating with the shaft 3, the ring it stands still while the ring M might be partially rotated about the sleeve.

The two rings 40 and ll have complemental beveled surfaces 59, each of which extends only partially around the rings. A slight manual rotation of the ring it causes the beveled surface 58 of that ring to ride upon the co-acting beveled surface of the ring 49 which acts to force the ring 43 toward the follower 2|. This action, as may best be seen in Fig. 2, moves the follower 2| toward the flange l9 and causes the friction discs 36 to be impinged between the same. This action causes rotation of the rope drum 26 due to the fact that the disc 3| is caused to rotate. In Fig. 1, the rings 40 and ll are shown in such position that the friction discs 34 are not impinged, while in Fig. 2 the ring 4| has been slightly rotated, the handle 4? having been pushed downwardly, and the follower 2| has therefore been moved to cause impingement of the friction discs 34. When the parts are in this position, the rope drum '26 will rotate with the stub-shaft and the sleeve i3. An annular thrust bearing 5% may be provided between the ring 22 and the right hand surface of the ring 'H. Radially spaced indentures 52 are provided in the right hand face of the ring 22 to receive aspanner wrench, and similar indentures are provided in the periphery of the lock nut 23 for a similar purpose. An annular thrust bearing 56 may also be provided between the adjacent faces of the ring so and the follower 2i for an obvious pur-' po From the foregoing description, it may readily be seen that a slight movement of the handle 47 will cause a lesser longitudinal movement of the follower 2| along the exterior surface of the sleeve l3. and therefore the clutching action of the friction discs 3d may be very sensitively controlled. It. is also :pointed out that any longitudinal stress exerted by slight rotation of the ring 4| is withstood by the sleeve l3 and not by the stub-shaft 3. A suitable lubricating fitting 64 may be provided for furnishing a lubricant to the reservoir l5 through a passage 55 in order to lubricate the roller bearings 25. Other lubricant fittings may be provided to lubricate the bearings 48 and any moving parts where desired.

It is pointed out that when the friction discs 34 become worn thin by usage, the slack may be taken up by rotating the thrust nut 22 upon the threads l8 and then re-setting the lock-nut 23. The right hand face of the spool 9 will act to limit the extent to which the rope drum 26 may be moved toward the left hand upon the sleeve I3. It is pointed out that the friction discs may be replaced when worn by merely loosening or backing off the ring 22 and lock-nut 23, removing the stud bolts 32 and taking out the two sections of the disc 3|.

A suitable sheet metal housing 60 extends across the winding channel 21 of the rope drum 26 and is bolted to the periphery of the ring 4!! by suitable stud-bolts BI. This housing is preferably split longitudinally to form two body halves which are held together along their meeting edges by bolts 62.

It is thought that the above description is sufi-loiently specific to disclose the operation of the device without a further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and has been described hereinabove, it is obvious that minor changes could well be made.

I claim:

A clutch mechanism including the combination with a driven shaft, of: a stub shaft removably attached to the driven shaft in axial alignment therewith; a substantially tubular elongated sleeve surrounding the stub shaft and keyed thereto; an outwardly extending rigid annular flange carried by the sleeve intermediate the ends thereof: a rope winding drum surrounding the sleeve at one side of said flange, and adapted for independent rotation upon the sleeve, said drum having a tubular extension projecting longitudinally beyond said flange; bearings interposed between the drum and the sleeve; an annular friction disc surrounding the sleeve adjacent the other side of the flange, but attached to neither; an annular metal plate beside said friction disc and rigidly carried by the extension of the drum; a second friction disc around the sleeve and located beside the annular plate; a follower ring surrounding the sleeve and adapted to slide thereon to impinge the two friction discs and the annular plate into frictionally locked relation to the annular flange on the sleeve; spring means for normally urging the follower away from the adjacent friction disc; a pair of clutch rings around the sleeve but not anchored thereto, said rings having adjacent inter-engaging tapered faces whereby rotation of one ring will cause the other to slide along the sleeve for urging the follower into friction disc impinging position; a nut threaded upon the sleeve adjacent the rings for limiting the longitudinal movement of one ring away from the other; a lock-nut threaded upon the sleeve for preventing inadvertent rotation of the first nut; means for holding one of said clutch rings against rotation; means for lubricating said bearings; and means for lubricating the inter-engaging surfaces of said clutch rings.

VARNEY S. HARLIN. 

